Facial recognition ensures smooth travel during National Day break

Many Chinese travelers faced a smoother travel experience during the National Day holiday, thanks to pilot programs using facial recognition in place of IDs checks at railway stations, hotels, banks and restaurants.
Passengers at the entrances to Jinan railway station, capital of Shandong province, put their ID cards and tickets on the gate machines and infrared cameras scan their face before allowing them into the station.
The station no longer has staff checking the tickets and ID cards of passengers. Queues at the entrances moved smoothly using the new system.
Many hotels in Jinan have also adopted a facial recognition system to check guests’ identities. The system takes just 10 seconds to confirm the guests’ identity, including those who do not have ID card.
Three Agricultural Bank of China branches in the city have also adapted the system: customers no longer need to insert their bank cards to withdraw money from ATMs. The machine scans the account holder’s face to access their account. The bank has limited the daily withdrawal of RMB3,000 ($US452).
Facial recognition is also being used in hotels and railway stations around China, including Beijing.